Pack your bags and fasten your seat belts because 2024 is set to be a *big* year in travel. As travel trends continue to shape the industry, we’re seeing a shift in the way travellers choose their destinations.
Skyscanner recently unveiled its Travel Trends report for 2024 which breaks down upcoming travel patterns in UAE travellers. From concerts to food and even sleep, next year’s wave of keen jetsetters have a list of priorities in mind. We break down all the top travel trends and destinations to give you all the inspo for your next trip!
Via Unsplash
Top travel trends for 2024:
Gig tripping
How far would you travel to see your fave artist in concert? 2024 is likely to see a rise in the number of travellers flying both short and long haul to attend concerts, driven by a 38% interest in experiencing favorite artists live. Cost considerations remain pivotal, with 72% willing to go overseas for a concert if it leads to savings. Girl math strikes again, ladies!
Setjetting
Setjetting gains momentum as we enter 2024, as travelers are getting major travel inspo from their favorite films and TV shows. Emily in Paris reignited a broad interest in Paris travel, and recently the Barbie movie has had everyone wanting to step into the shoes (and rollerskates) of Barbie on Venice Beach. It’s giving main character!
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Budget bougie foodies
Foodies are set to prioritise culinary travel in 2024. Almost half of UAE travelers choose their destinations based on specific restaurants. As Japan continues to cater to food lovers, Osaka emerges as a top destination for 2024 for those seeking some of the world’s best cuisine.
Sleep tourism
Sleep tourism emerges as one of the most popular travel trends going into 2024, with searches for sleep retreats rapidly on the rise. It seems that we’re all in our sleepy girl era, with nearly half of UAE travellers not getting the recommended 7-8 hours of sleep a night. A universal desire for rest has seen ‘sleeping’ top the board of UAE travellers’ priorities for their next holiday. Booking a trip with the sole purpose of sleeping?! Err..sign us up!
Via Unsplash
Analogue adventures
Gen Z are over iPhone selfies. Haven’t you heard? Spamming your IG with your camera roll pics is no longer an acceptable way to document your trip. Analogue cameras are having a moment, with 26% of UAE 18-to-24-year-olds favouring a Polaroid camera and 15% bringing a 35mm film camera for those aesthetic holiday pics.
Via Unsplash
Celebration vacations
Celebrating something special in 2024? Why not jet off in style for the occasion? It seems 72% of UAE travellers have taken a group trip to celebrate a birthday or anniversary, with a further 23% saying it’s something they’d love to do so in 2024. Struggling to find a destination that the whole group can agree on? Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and Turkey are the most popular places for friends and families to celebrate.
Luxe-for-less
It appears that budget travel is OUT and luxe-for-less is IN for 2024. UAE travellers are projected to spent a bit more money on trips next year, prioritizing that extra bit of comfort. 37% of UAE travellers planning to upgrade their flight to business or first class. Almost half of UAE travellers also plan to purchase airport lounge passes to get their holiday off to the best possible start.
Via Unsplash
Trending destinations for 2024
With 2024 around the corner, it’s a great time to start planning your next trip. With the UAE set for a 9-day holiday in 2024, there is plenty of opportunity to hit up a dream destination. Skyscanner’s trend report shows that European capitals are set to dominate the 2024 travel landscape for UAE travelers, with Antalya, Rome, and Berlin gaining popularity. Osaka and Tokyo also continue to rank high as a destination, and New York remains a long-haul favorite.